Progressive forces have described China’s dream through the Belt and
Road Initiative in Africa and Africa’s dream through the African Union’s Agenda 2063 as complementary. 

The Belt and Road Initiative projects in Africa have primarily assisted the continent to realise some of the seven developmental aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, leading to what has often been dubbed a win-win cooperation under the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation. 

In addition, this has enhanced ‘people-to-people’ exchanges under the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation.

There is overwhelming evidence to show that the Belt and Road Initiative has enabled China to
increase economic and diplomatic cooperation with 49 African countries that have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). Logically, the African Union has also signed the Belt and Road Initiative Memorandum. 

What I find impressive is the ‘all-inclusive model” of the Belt and Road Initiative loans that has benefited developing African countries 

without proper infrastructure. The Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects have resulted in connectivity between places in countries in Africa, which has in turn led to the fast movement of goods and people, thereby increasing trade.

In line with Agenda 2063 Aspiration 2, which places emphasis “on the need for Africa to develop world-class infrastructure that criss-crosses Africa and which will improve connectivity through newer and bolder initiatives to link the continent by rail, road, sea and air, and developing regional and continental power pools, as well as ICT,” China’s Belt and Road Initiative has played a key role in fulfilling this developmental goal. 

Some of the notable Belt and Road Initiative projects include the East-   West Highway connecting Algeria to Morocco and Tunisia; the Entebbe-Kampala Expressway in Uganda; the Abuja-Kaduna railway line in Nigeria; the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway in Ethiopia; the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway connecting Mombasa to 

Nairobi in Kenya; and the Mali-Guinea cross-country railway. 

In Namibia, the Belt and Road Initiative could possibly be roped in to construct the Trans-Zambezi Extension to Grootfontein-Rundu-Katima Mulilo, which would form a rail link to Zambia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique.

In Mozambique, the China Road and Bridge Corporation constructed the Maputo-Katembe Bridge, which is the longest suspension bridge in Africa. Also, the Belt and Road Initiative projects are found in seaports along the African coastline. In addition, the construction of industrial parks has resulted in economic growth, and boosted trade in Africa. 

The following parks enhanced the economic landscape of Uganda: Shandong Industrial Park in Luzira, Tiantang Industrial Park in Mukono, Liaoshen Industrial Park in Kapeeka, Uganda-China (Guangdong) Free Zone of International Co-operation in Sukulu, Mbale Industrial Park, and Kehong Agricultural 

Industrial Park in Luweero.

It is important to note that the Belt and Road Initiative projects are not limited to connectivity infrastructure only. Egypt’s majestic new administrative capital is a product of the Belt and Road Initiative. 

Similarly, the gigantic Karuma Hydroelectric Power Station and Isimba Hydroelectric Power Station in Uganda would not have seen light without billions of dollars provided from China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The US$200 million African Union Conference Centre and Office Complex in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was largely funded by the Chinese government.

*Professor Jairos Kangira is a professor of English at the University of Namibia. E-mail address: kjairos@gmail.com